Argentina’s ex-dictator Videla dead at 87

wsws.org - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

General Jorge Rafael Videla, who headed the bloody military junta that seized power in Argentina in 1976, died last Friday in a Marcos Paz prison cell. The coup that toppled the government of President Isabel Peron unleashed both economic devastation as well as mass repression against the working class for seven years (the "dirty war") until it fell following the defeat of ...

Globovision owners hint at toned-down news stance

San Diego Union-Tribune - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

CARACAS, Venezuela -; The new owners of Venezuela's only television channel to take critical stands against the government say they will, in their words, "contribute to a climate of peace and not of ...

Quake Victims Deny Reconstruction Figures Given by Chilean President

Prensa Latina - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Santiago de Chile, May 23 (Prensa Latina) Victims of the 2010 erthquake in Chile today denied the number presented by President Sebastian Piera about the reconstruction work after that natural disaster left 523 dead and 2 million victims. According to the president, who presented the last figure of his mandate to the Congress , the country advanced 96 percent in that issue. Members of the ...

Uruguay will Launch Small Satellite by Year End

Prensa Latina - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Montevideo, May 23 (Prensa Latina) Uruguay prepares a satellite 20 by 10 centimeters, capable of taking pictures with normal and infrared cameras to a distance of 600 kilometers and sent them to Earth. If all goes well, the first Uruguayan satellite, which function is to take pictures of that South American territory to be used for research, such as measuring the temperature of a cloud or ...

Azerbaijan Uruguay parliaments sign agreement on cooperation

News.Az - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

The parliaments of Azerbaijan and Uruguay have inked an agreement on cooperation at a meeting of Speaker of the Milli Majlis Ogtay Asadov with an Uruguayan delegation led by chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliament Herman Cardoso. Speaker Asadov stressed the importance of reciprocal visits in terms of development of the bilateral ...

World Briefing | The Americas Argentina Increases of Cash Handouts to Poor

New York Times - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Argentina 's president has announced increases of as much as 35 percent in cash handouts to the poor, students, pregnant women and retirees. ...

Kristin Braswell In Search of Pura Vida The Magic of Costa Rica

Huffington Post - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

vida is a simple phrase that means "pure life." It is a greeting heard as frequently as "hello" -- on every street corner, restaurant and even home in Costa Rica. At the beginning of my travels to La Fortuna de San Carlos in the La Ajuela province, I smiled fondly in response to the phrase from the people who spoke it. But, by the end of my weeklong trip, I internalized these ...

UN Envoy Pledges to Lobby for More Aid for Darfur

VOA - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Displaced persons from East Darfur at a camp in another part of the region in western Sudan. UN envoy Valerie Amos has called for more development aid in Darfur, where conflict has raged for 10 ...

Protesters at Las Vegas tech show take aim at Mexican billionaires corrupt practices

Las Vegas Sun - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Jessica Padron, left, and members of Two Countries One Voice protest against Carlos Slim, a Mexican businessman listed as the second richest man in the world by Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, in front of the Venetian Wednesday, May 22, 2013. The group accuses Slim’s telecommunication companies of engaging in predatory and monopolistic practices. The protest coincides with CTIA, a ...

Rosneft Venezuelas PDVSA to sign joint venture documents

Itar Tass - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

CARACAS, May 23 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's Rosneft and Venezuela's PDVSA on Thursday will sign founding documents to set up PetroVictoria, a joint venture to develop the Carabobo 2 field, Rosneft director Igor Sechin told reporters after talks with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias ...

Costa Rica volcano erupts

China.org.cn - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Costa Rica's Institute of Volcanology and Seismology says the eruption occurred at around 9 a.m. local time. People in the nearby village of La Central have been ...

Mt. Pleasant pair answering the call to help in Haiti

Tribune Review - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Answering the call to help others, two young Mt. Pleasant-area residents are in the midst of a week-long trip to Haiti as part of a mission trip under the auspices of the Church of God ...

International Friendly Venezuela 2 El Salvador 1

soccerway - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

A pair of second-half penalties have secured a 2-1 victory for Venezuela in their friendly international against El Salvador.In preparation for next month's FIFA World Cup qualifier versus Bolivia, Venezuela picked up their second win in five international matches, despite going behind to Darwin Ceren's first-half strike.Venezuela recovered in the opening 25 minutes of the second half, ...

Boxes of cash seized in Mexico corruption probe

Sign on San Diego - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

MEXICO CITY -; Mexican authorities say they have seized five boxes filled with cash as part of an investigation into alleged embezzlement by a former governor of southern Tabasco ...

Amnesty Report Highlights Refugee Plight

VOA - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

annual report by Amnesty International cites the increasing number of refugees around the world, and the lack of support for them, as the key human rights issue for the past year. The London-based group also calls the Internet an important tool in fighting human rights abuses, and calls on governments to increase access to it. Amnesty International reports that the number of refugees ...

Guatemalas Genocide on Trial

The Nation - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

People celebrate the judge's guilty verdict for Guatemala's former dictator Jose Efrain Rios Montt during his genocide trial in Guatemala City, Friday, May 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Moises ...

Lochte says swimming superstar Phelps will be back for Rio Games

Global Times - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

US Olympic swimming star Ryan Lochte said Wednesday he has no doubt superstar Michael Phelps will end his retirement and return to the pool for another shot at Olympic glory at the 2016 Rio Games.Speaking in Vancouver where he is swimming in a local meet in the Canadian city this weekend, the 28-year-old Lochte, winner of 11 Olympic medals and holder of three world records in the individual ...

Flavours of South America on show

Travel Blackboard - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

The Flavours of South America Roadshow Sydney showcased exciting destinations, providing an insight into the unique tours and opportunities available throughout the continent. Adventure World hosted the event, bringing together destination specialists from Peru, Brazil, Patagonia, Argentina, Bolivia, Condor Travel, LATAM Airlines, Exodus and Metropolitan Touring and Cruceros. Adventure ...

Penn calls for Dakar rally to cancel Bolivia unless a US citizen is released

Merco Press - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Actor and humanitarian Sean Penn called for the Dakar Rally to cancel its debut run in Bolivia unless an ailing American businessman being held under house arrest there is released. Penn, a friend of President Evo Morales has angered Bolivian authorities with his ...

Mexican farmers standing up to drug cartels refuse to disarm

Denver Post - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Mexican soldiers patrol the streets during an operation searching for criminals in the area called 'Tierra Caliente' (Hot Land) in the Coalcoman community,Michoacan State, Mexico on May 21, 2013. (Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images) COALCOMAN, Mexico - Farmers wearing bulletproof vests and toting assault rifles ride in pick-up trucks emblazoned with the word "self-defense" to ...

Brazil confirms Azevedo to be new WTO chief

SINA - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

(file photo) Brazilian diplomat Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo has been elected the new director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Brazilian authorities announced Tuesday. The WTO is expected to make the official announcement Wednesday, but Brazil's Foreign Ministry confirmed Azebedo's victory in the election, taking at least 93 votes, more than the 80 necessary to win. ...

Editorial Justice Interrupted in Guatemala

International Herald Tribune - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Securing justice for victims of the brutal civil war in Guatemala that lasted from 1960 to 1996 was always going to be tough. But the ruling by the ...